PE Summit or Super 27?

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moosetrek

Minister of Fire
Oct 22, 2008
575
CA in the Sierras
So I have been absent for about three years, as I've moved around and am now ready to put a stove in my new-to-me home here in eastern Nevada. My last stove was a PE T6, and I loved it but it went with my house. I used it to heat 800 sq feet of old house in Wyoming. I now have a 1036-sq foot decently-insulated house (2x6 walls, 1993 construction). I am leaning toward either the Super 27 or the Summit. Will the summit be overkill, and is there really such a thing? Burning juniper and pinyon pine mostly. Relatively open floor plan with two bedrooms. I really don't want the electric heat to come on if I'm home. Thoughts? I've read numerous reviews and posts, and it seems to vary. Winter temps in the 10-20 degree range with colder snaps moderately likely.
 
Why not another T6?
 
Partly cost, mostly it doesn't go with the house the same way. The Summit or Super will look way better, and I really liked the PE quality and way it burned. Just checked the attic, R30. Lots of windows and a sliding door - leaning toward the Summit, but is it possible to have too much stove? The T6 never felt that way, even in a smaller space.
 
Welcome back. Congratulations on your new house. With those temps and those woods I'd be looking at the Summit. I would like having the extra fire power if needed. I really like having an oversized firebox. I can get go longer periods of time without scooping ashes, get longer pieces of wood in NS and EW, can burn weirdo misshaped pieces, I don't have to jam the firebox full every load and I have the extra firepower during those super cold snaps. That being said, I think you will do fine with either unit.
 
Thanks - I realized I should clarify the temps. Those are the lows; daytime highs are 40s in Jan/Feb. This will be my first winter in the high desert so I don't know if I'm overestimating the cold.
 
I think I would go with summit. I heat roughly 1200sf decent insulated 1994 construction in ct with 2.2 ct fire box and I wouldn't mind 3cf. Not that it's not doing it's job I would like longer burns.
 
How about wind exposure? Is the house sealed decently?

With those temps and the insulation level, you should be fine with the super, even with softwood. I suppose it depends on what you expect, but plenty of coals after 8-10 hours should be no problem. PE's linked secondary air control on the super series stoves make them very easy to control, and make for some surprisingly long burns from a 2 cu ft non-cat.

Lots of folks here heating more space in colder climates with a T5/Super 27.
 
According to this chart: http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/forest-products/wood-heating, the pinyon pine is essentially as good as oak and juniper is also close to hardwood territory. Given that I think you will be fine with the Super. I heat 1300 sqft in VT with that and our temps go lower than yours plus our insulation could be better. Maybe go with the T5 for a more even heat release?
 
Thanks - wind exposure is not too bad; though there is a fair amount of glass. I didn't realize the pinyon is so high in BTUs, definitely a bonus compared to the ponderosa I am used to.
 
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